Stabilizing mechanism for flying-machines.



- H. W. PIKE & R. E. JOHNSON. smmuzme MECHANISM FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18, 1911. I 1,012,006, Patented Dec. 19, 191-1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Be nus ZJkIZSOZ -H. w. PIKE & R. E. JOHNSON.

STABILIZING MECHANISM FOR FLYING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 18,1911 1,012,006. I Patented Dec.19,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3mm I fiariyWB/Yeqq WM lierzasfilrowam 7 To all whom it may concern:

, UNITED/STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY w. PIKE AND RENUS E. JOHNSON, or OSCEOLA, NEBRASKA.

STABILIZING MECHANISM. FOR FLYING-MACHINES.-

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Application filed April 18, 1911. Serial No. 621,836.

Be it known that we, HARRY W. PIKE and RENUs E. JOHNSON, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Osceola, in the county of Polk and State ofNebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in StabilizingMechanism for Flying-Machines, of which the following is aspecificationj This invention relates to automatic stabilizing mechanismfor flying, machines, the objectin view being to provide simple andeffective gravity-controlled means for operating stabilizing deviceswhereby the lateral stability of the machine may be maintained.

A further object of the invention is to provide stabilizing means of thependulumcontrolled type in which the tendency of the pendulum weight tooscillate after the machine is right'ed is prevented.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed,reference-being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is afront elevation, showing the application of the inyention to a biplanestructure, the parts appearing in normal position. Fig. 2 is a sectionalplan view on the line 2-2 ofr-Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a foreand-aft section onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

scription, we have for convenience employed the term stabilizers todesignate and in; clude ailerons, sliding or pivoted wing tips, warpingtips or any other devices which are or may be used for lateral control.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the frame of the machine, and '2the stabilizers. Arranged upon the machine at a suitable point betweenthe stabilizers is a track rail support 3, provided with an upperarcua'te track surface 3' and arranged in a direction at right angles tothe line of flight. As shown, the stabilizersare connected for movementin unison by sets of cords or wires 4 and 5 in such manner that when onestabilizer swings downwardly the other Wlll swing upwardly and viceversa.

Arranged upon the support 3 below the track surface 3' is a pivot member6, preferably in the form of a hook having an upturned elongated bill.Mounted for pivotal movement upon thehorizontal shank of this hook is apendulum rod 7, having an elongated slot 8 through which the hookextends. The lower end of this rod projects 'below the frame of themachine and is of proper weight to be controlled by the actionofgravity, so that the rod will maintain a perpendicular position when themachine tilts laterally in either direction. 1

The upper end of the rod is provided with a bracket 9 carrying a wheelor roller 10, or its equivalent, to run u on the track surface 3,whereby the pen ulum rod is ada t-.

ed to be elevated when. the machine tilts laterally in either directionfrom the horizontal, owing to the increase in distance between the lvOtpoint of the lever and the surfaces of the track over which the rollertravels. A pin 11 projects from the front of the lever and receives aring or coupling member 12, to which the ends of the controlling cordsor wires 5 of the stabilizers are connected.

When the machine is traveling horizontally in flight, and is completelybalanced in a lateral direction, the roller rests upon the centralportion of the track surface and the upper end wall of the slot 8 in thependulum rod}; rests upon the shank of the pivot hook. In this positionof the machine the stabithe direction toward'the nptilt'1ng side of themachine, whereby the eordor wire 5 'lizers are, of course, in a neutralposition,

' tilts laterally ineither connecting the rod. with the stabilizer atthe downtilting side of the machine is drawn upon to swing saidstabilizer upward. This operation causes the stabilizer at one side ofthe machine to be moved in one direction and the stabilizer at theopposite side of the machine to be moved in the reverse direction, forrestoring the lateral balance, and at the same time the relative changein position of the rod on the track surface causes said rod to beelevated, whereby on the restoration of the machine to a horizontalposition the rod will slide downward on its pivot. The same operationensues when the machine tilts in the reverse direction, except that therod and stabilizers move in the reverse directions to that abovedescribed,'the rod. being in a similar manner elevated and sliding backto normal position when the machine is righted. This elevating andlowering motion of the rod in the tilting of the machine is permitted bythe slot and pin or slip joint connect on 6 and 8 between the same andthe'support 3, by which on each successive relative tilting and upwardtravel of the rod and the subsequent return of the parts to normalposition, the tendency of the rod to swing laterally is convcrted into adownward sliding motion of the rod through the force of gravity by whichsuch lateral tilting motion is prevented. Hence, the return of the rodto normal position will be easy and gradual, any tendency of the rod tolateral swinging motion through centrifugal force overcome in bankingthe machine on making a turn, and oscillation of the .stabilizersthrough such movements of the rod upon the righting of the machineprevented, the advantages of which will be apparent. It will, of course,be understood that under some conditions it is desirable to hold the rodfrom movement to prevent operation. of the stabilizers when the machinemoves out of lateral balance, in which event actuation of thestabilizers may be avoided by manually holding the rod in fixedposition. The rod also may be employed as a lever under normalconditions for controlling the stabilizers.

The track rail 3 is preferably provided with a slot t to receive aretaining pin 4;", which is adapted to hold the wheel or roller 10 incontact with the track and prevent it from jumping oil the track whenthe machine is subjected to jolts or vibrations. A retaining wheel orroller 41 may be mounted upon the pendulum rod to engage the under sideof the track for the same purpose. Either one or both of these retainingdevices may be employed, as desired. The pendulum rod is preferablyconstructed oi two sections united by a hinge or other joint 8, so as toallow the track and upper portion of the rod to tilt in a fore and aftdirection with the machine without att act ing the pendulum weight.

Having thus described the invention, we claim 1- 1. In a flying machine,stabilizers, an areuate guide, a pendulum, a member carried thereby andtraversing said guide, connec' tions between said pendulum and thestabilizers, and a. pivotal support "for the pendulum adapted to permitthe same to have vertical shifting motion.

2. In a flying machine, stabilizers, a pendulum pivoted for relativelateral swinging and vertical sliding movements, connections between thependulum and stabilizers, a track support, and a guide member carried bythe pendulum to traverse said track support.

3. In a flying machine, stabilizers, a pendulum pivotally mounted uponthe machine for relative lateral swinging and vertical shiftingmovements, a curvedtraclt support extending on an arc eccentric to thepivotal support of the pendulum, connections be tween the pendulum andstabilizers, and a guide member on the pendulum and traversing saidtrack support.

l. In aflying machme,stab1l1zers, a pivot ,member upon the machine, apendulum rod .mounted to swing laterally upon said pivot :member and toslide vertically thereon, connections between the pendulum rod and. the

stabilizers, and means for elevating the rod Jon each actuating movementand permitting descent thereof upon return of the parts to normalposition.

5. In a flying machine, stabilizers, a pivot member upon the frame ofthe machine, a

transversely extending track above said 'pivot i'nember, a pendulum rodmounted to swing laterally and slide vertically upon said pivot member,a guide upon said rod to traverse said track, and connections betweenthe rod and the stabilizers.

6. In a flying machine, stabilizers, a pendulum pivotally mounted on themachine for relative lateral swinging and vertical sliding movement-s, atrack support having pair of guide portions, connections be tween thependulum and stabilizers, a member on the pendulum traversing one ofsaid guiding surfaces of the track support to eii'cct the verticalshifting movements of said pendulum, and a guiding member on the qiendulum tlilVQlSlligietllG other guiding surilace off the track supportto prevent displacement oftlie first-named guiding mem ber. I

7. In a flying machine, a gliding structurc, stabilizers mountedthereon, a hook.- shaped pivot mei'nber upon the ,gliding strut-lurehaving its bill directed upward, a pendulum extending above and. belowsaid pivot member and formed with a longitudi nally slotted portionreceiving and engaging the shaft of said pivoted member, a curvedarcuate support upon the gliding structure above the pivot member, aguide roller upon the upper end of the pendulum traversing said support,and guiding means betweenthe pendulum and track support for preventingdisplacement of said roller.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures in presence of twoWitnesses.

HARRY W. PIKE. RENUS E, JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

F. H. BALL, W. F. 'KEPUR.

Copies of this natent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

